Exercise 2. Read the text. Exercise 1. Learn the following words and word-combinations

Exercise 1. Learn the following words and word-combinations.

Ancient tools and equipment

Text A History of fire fighting equipment

Fire Fighting Equipment (Противопожарное оборудование)

Future Indefinite Passive.

Exercise 10. Translate the given sentences into English. Use Present, Past or

1. Ее часто посылают на почту.

2. В прошлом году ее послали в Лондон.

3. За ней всегда посылают.

4. За ним послали курсанта Петрова.

5. Их всегда приглашают на день рождения младшего сына.

6. Летом детей отвезут на дачу.

7. Об этом фильме много говорили.

8. Этой картиной всегда восхищались.

9. В музее нам показали много прекрасных картин.

10. Эту книгу очень часто спрашивают.

11. Ее всегда нужно ждать.

12. Над ним все смеются.

13. В институте его часто вспоминали и говорили о нем.

14. За спасателями всегда посылают в трудных ситуациях.

be concerned about – беспокоиться, проявлять озабоченность

brass cylinder – латунный цилиндр

bucket brigade – ведёрная команда

chamber – камера (ёмкость)

create – создавать, творить

credit smb with – приписывать кому-либо что-либо

do physical harm – причинять вред

double-force pump = “siphona” – насос с двумя рукоятками

draw water – втягивать, всасывать воду

fire engine – зд. пожарный насос

fitted pistons – подогнанные (притёртые) поршни

grappling hook – крюк, захват, кошка

impact – влияние, воздействие

ladder truck – зд. конный экипаж с пожарной лестницей

nozzle – насадок, ствол

outlet valve – выпускной клапан

pass out of use – прекратить существование

plunger – плунжер; поршень

reveal – показывать; открывать, обнаруживать

squirt water – разбрызгивать воду

suction hose – всасывающий рукав

syringe-like design – конструкция по принципу действия шприца

thatch – соломенная или тростни-ковая крыша

valve – клапан, вентиль

vigils – пожарно-сторожевые посты

worship – боготворить, прекло-няться

History reveals that people have always been concerned about fire. In Greek mythology mention is made of Prometheus who taught men the use of fire which he stole from heaven against the will of Zeus.

Primitive human’s first introduction to fire probably came from fires started by lightning or volcanoes. In the course of time people learned to create fire. People realized that a controlled fire kept them warm, gave them security and light. An uncontrolled fire, however, could do them physical harm and destroy their property. Although the human race did not invent fire (fire is known to be a natural phenomenon), the greatest initial challenge was to learn to manage fire and to prevent it from destroying its user.

The Romans worshipped fire and respected its impact, for they suffered a lot of fires in their city. Hero of Alexandria, a Roman leader, was credited with creating the first fire pump, which was based on a syringe-like design that squirted water when the plunger was pushed.

The first record of a truly organized fire department began with the actions taken in Rome in 6 A.D., when a permanent fire brigade, called the Vigiles, was established. What did they put out fires with? The Vigiles were equipped with ladders, ropes, picks, saws, axes and buckets. They also had “squirts” (like large syringes) which could throw water for a short distance. They also made use of wet blankets which they spread on walls to prevent the fires spreading and wicker mats which were probably used for rescue operations. In fighting fires, however, their main reliance was on the human chain, that old device by which buckets of water were passed on from hand to hand from the source of supply until they could be poured directly on the flames by men on ladders. There were men who worked the pumps and men with grappling hooks who tore off roofs and tore down walls to get to fires.

Unfortunately, with the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Vigiles passed out of use.

In the Middle Ages, fire was a serious threat to every city. During the next ten centuries, between the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Middle Ages, technological advances were created all around the globe. There is no record of any organized fire fighting in the 11^th and 12^th centuries. Yet people used fire hooks to drag off burning thatch and pull down the house to create a fire break. Some hooks were large and horses could be harnessed to them to pull down a building. The early ladder trucks carried the fire hooks, and the name of hook and ladder trucks developed from this ancient fire fighting tool.

In the 16^th century syringes were used as fire fighting tools, the larger ones were sometimes mounted on wheels. It was also in this century that fire engines were rediscovered.

Great fires in Europe, particularly the Great Fire of London, hastened the development of the fire engine. General Jan van der Heijden from Amsterdam invented a new engine and hose made of leather sewn together to form a tube. A device for drawing water and the suction hose were also invented. In 1721 Richard Newsham developed an engine that became very popular, it could send a stream 165 feet (50m) high.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27